Traveling block and system



Oct. 27, 1931". H J. HOLLINGSWORTH 1,828,897

TRAVELING BLOCK AND SYSTEM v Filed Jan. 9, 1929 Patented Oct. 27,1931

UNITE-1D,] STATES} PATENT OFFICE,

HO ER J. nonLmeswon'rm-or LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR r0 ERLE r.

c I HALLIBURTON, OE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TRAVELING BLOCK AND" SYSTEM Application filed January 9, 1929. Serial No. 331,246.

This invention relates to traveling blocks and tackle systems of the type used in apparatus for drilling wells such as'oil wells.

In drilling wells such as oil wells, the drill pipe is vertically disposed in the well hole and has its upper end connected to a swlvel which in turn is supported by a hook connected with-atraveling block. The travelnumber of lineswhich are used in the lines and falls supporting the pipe.

Commonly, this means a change from SIX lines supporting the travel block to eightlines supporting the travelblock. As the lines and falls and traveling block are ordinarily constructed, such a change means several hours, work in rethreading the traveling blocks,

It is the primary object of the present in-' vention to provide a tackle system and traveling block in which a number of lines supporting the traveling block may be readily changed, for example, from six to elght lines or vice versa'without requiring a rethreading of the traveling block.

By the apparatus and device of the-present invention, I provide a means by which, when a large weight, of pipe is to be supported in the well hole, a large number of lines may be used for supporting the traveling blocks and whena small weight of pipe is to be handled,the number of lines may be reduced, so that a greater speed of handling the pipe may be had.

The present invention, together with various further objects and advantages of the same will best be understood from a description of the preferred form or example of the traveling blocks and tackle system embodying the invention. For this purpose, there is hereafter described a preferred form of the invention, the description being given in connection with the accompanying I drawings, in which: I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the tackle system, V

Figure 2 is an elevationof the traveling block used in the system. 7

Figure '3 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is anvenlarged elevation of the idler sheaveutilized in the operations of reducing the number of active lines or lines supporting the traveling block.

Referring to the drawings, 2 generally indicates a traveling block which comprises a plurality of sheaves 3 around which a line is trained which also passes over sheaves 4, which are supported in stationary position, usually on what is known as the crown block of composite idler sheaves, generally mount- 1 ed upon the top of an oil well derrick. 5 1 indicates the line which is threaded around the sheaves 3 of the traveling block 2, and the crown block sheaves 4. One free end ofv said line 5, extends to a hoisting drum 6, while the other free end is fastened to a stationary point or other usual calf wheel of the drilling apparatus.

Now referring more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the traveling block 2 is shown v as comprising a frame consisting of the side blades 7 and 8, the lower endsof which are connected with a pin 9 which supports a bale 10. Spacers 11 are shown between the ends of the bale 10 and between the ends of the bale 10 and the spacers 11 are received the ends of diaphragms 12 which separate the different sheaves 3 of the block. The upper end of the side plates 7 'and' 8 are similarly connected to a ,pin13 which receives the eye ends of the bale 14; between which are disposed the spacers 15. The upper ends of diaphragms 12 are positioned between a spacer 15 and the ends of bale 14. Most of the sheaves of the block and generally all, except a single sheave of the block, are supported inside of the side plates 7 and '8 of the traveling block on a central shaft 16' journalcd inthe side plates 7 and 8, these sheaves being between-the dia phragms '12. There is also indicated guard 17 of any usual or preferred construction,

which covers the lower halves of the sheaves and has slots 18 through which the lines may enter through the individual sheaves. Such guards are each hooked to the side plates 13 at their upper ends and bolted, as indicated at 19, to the guard on the opposite side of the block. 7

The construction thus described, corresponds generally in detail with the traveling block new used, except there are usually included four inner sheaves in place of the three illustrated.

It will be seen that when a line is threaded around the traveling block, that in order to change the number of lines passing to the block, it is necessary to totally rethread the same. In the traveling block forming part of the present invention, the central shaft 16 is extended beyond the side plate 8 and mounts a sheave 3a which is thus exterior to the major frame of the traveling block. Preferably, also the upper pin 13 is extended beyond side plate 8 and used to suspend 'a guard 20 for the exterior sheave. For this purpose, there is shown a spacer 21 on the pin 13, next to the plate 8, and then there is mounted upon the pin 13, a guard supporting member 22 to which is pivoted, as indicated at 23, a guard 24:, .t-helower end of which extends over the lower end of the sheave 3a and held to the side plateS by a catch 25 of any suitable construction.

By the construction of the traveling block thus described, a pair of lines which ordiniarly pass to the traveling block when it is operating as an eight line block, pass around this exterior sheave 3a. When it is desired to change the traveling block from, for example, an eight line block to a six line block, the guard member 2& is unlatched and pivoted back, in which position the line may be taken off the sheave 3a and placed around the lower end of a stationary idler sheave, so that the plock will then operate only on the inner six mes.

Now referring to Figure 4, the stationary idler sheave 26 is illustrated for receiving the two lines in loop taken from the sheave 3a. For this purpose, the idler sheave 26 is indicated as mounted upon a shaft 27 supported by the two beams 28 which, in practice, form a part of the derrick. In order that the line may be passed around said sheave 26 without treating operations being necessary, the shaft 27 is shown as provided with a high portion 29 at one end to operate as a handle by which it may be axially withdrawn from the beams 28, in order to free the sheave 26 from the shafts during the time that the loop of the two lines is to be passed around the sheave. The end of the shaft 27 opposite the handle 29 is shown as provided with a key wedge 30, which can be inserted in place in operation to hold the shaft against removal from the beams 28.

By the traveling block system thus described, in a few minutes a change may be made from a six to an eight line block or vice versa, thus changing the speed ratio of the tackle system and the weight carrying w powers, as the operations of drilling require and as a result, a large amount of time may be saved in the operations of drilling a well.

While the particular form of the invention herein described is well adapted to carry out the objects of the present invention, it is understood that various modifications and changes in the details of the invention may be made without departing from the principles of the invention, and the invention includes all such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1

1. A traveling block comprising a frame including side members and .end pins, an axle of."

supported by the side members intermediate the end pins, a plurality of sheaves rotatable on said axle between said side plates and end pins, a further sheave rotatably mounted ex 1 teriorly of said frame, a guard member for said exterior sheave mounted indqpendently of said axle and movable to and from a closed position, whereby on movement of the guard to open position a line looped about said exterior sheave may be withdrawn as a loop therefrom. a

2. A traveling block comprising a frame including side members and end pins, an axle supported by the side members intermediate the end pins, a plurality of sheaves rotatable on said axle between said side plates and end pins, a further sheaverotatably mounted exteriorly of said frame, a guard member for said exterior sheave mounted independently of said axle and movable to and from a closed position, whereby on movement of the guard to open position a line looped about said exterior sheave may be withdrawn as a loop therefrom, and a latch for holding the guard member in the closed position.

:Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 31st day of December, 1928.

HOMER J. HOLLINGSWVORTH. 

